| The Orlando Magic officially entered the NBA as an | | | | a championship by sweeping Orlando 4-0 in the Finals |
| expansion franchise in 1989. Led by a local | | | | to take the crown. |
| businessman, Jimmy Hewitt and former Philadelphia | | | | In the 1995-96 season, the Magic again dominated |
| 76ers general manager Pat Williams, the Magic hired | | | | the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division with |
| Matt Guokas as the team's first coach. The inaugural | | | | a 60-22 record, led by O'Neal and Hardaway. |
| team compiled a record of 18-64 with players | | | | However, the Magic were seeded number two, |
| including Reggie Theus, Scott Skiles (now current | | | | behind the amazing 72-10 record the Chicago Bulls |
| coach of the Chicago Bulls), Terry Catledge, Sam | | | | accumulated under Michael Jordan. In the playoffs, |
| Vincent, Otis Smith (now current general manager of | | | | after the Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons and the |
| the Magic), and Jerry Reynolds. In the club's first | | | | Atlanta Hawks, Orlando met the Bulls in the Eastern |
| draft in 1989, the Magic chose Nick Anderson with | | | | Conference finals. The combination of Jordan, Scottie |
| the 11th pick in the first round. | | | | Pippen and rebounder Dennis Rodman as well as Toni |
| The club's first game was on November 4, 1989, at | | | | Kukoc was too much for the Magic, and Orlando was |
| the Orlando Arena (O-Rena). Despite playing a | | | | swept 4-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. |
| hard-fought game, the visiting New Jersey Nets won | | | | In the offseason, in a huge blow to the Magic |
| 111- 106. The Magic's first victory came 2 days later, | | | | franchise, O'Neal left as a free agent to the Los |
| as the Magic defeated the New York Knicks 118-110. | | | | Angeles Lakers. However, the Magic still managed to |
| In the 1990 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected | | | | compile a 45-37 record, led by Hardaway, Darrell |
| Dennis Scott with the fourth overall pick. Scott, | | | | Armstrong, the team's emotional leader, and |
| known as a sharpshooter, helped the Magic compile a | | | | newly-acquired free agent Rony Seikaly. In the |
| 31-51 record. Combined with the fast-paced energy | | | | playoffs, the Magic came close to stunning the |
| style of Skiles, who was named the NBA's Most | | | | heavily favored Miami Heat in the first round, |
| Improved Player at the end of the season, the Magic | | | | extending the series to a classic game five, even |
| heralded the NBA's most improved record that | | | | after losing the first two games. In the middle of the |
| season. 1992 was a disappointing season for the | | | | season, though, urged by player discontent, |
| Magic, who struggled through a 17-game losing streak. | | | | management fired coach Brian Hill and named Richie |
| The club's history was changed dramatically with the | | | | Adubato as interim coach for the rest of the season. |
| 1992 NBA Draft. With the first overall pick, the Magic | | | | The Magic then hired Chuck Daly to be head coach |
| selected big-man Shaquille O'Neal from Louisiana State | | | | for the 1997-98 season. In addition, Hall of Famer |
| University. O'Neal, a 7-1 center, made an immediate | | | | Julius Erving joined the Magic's front office, giving |
| impact on the Magic, leading the club to a 41-41 | | | | Orlando immense hope for a successful season. |
| record. The Magic again were the NBA's most | | | | However, the season was hampered by injuries, as |
| improved franchise, and O'Neal garnered All-Star | | | | Hardaway sat out the majority of the season . |
| starter status and the Rookie of the Year award. | | | | Anderson, combined with newly acquired free agent |
| However, the Magic missed that year's playoffs, | | | | Bo Outlaw, led the team to a respectable 41-41 |
| because they were tied with the Indiana Pacers for | | | | record, just out of reach of the NBA playoffs. In |
| the 8th (and final) playoff spot in the Eastern | | | | addition, Rony Seikaly was traded during the season |
| Conference and because the Pacers owned the | | | | to the New Jersey Nets for three role players and a |
| tiebreaker. | | | | future draft pick. |
| Missing out on the playoffs had a silver lining: despite | | | | In 1998-99, with the acquisition of Matt Harpring and |
| having the NBA's best non-playoff record (and | | | | Michael Doleac and a healthy Hardaway and |
| thereby the least chance of gaining the top draft pick | | | | Anderson, the Magic tied for the Eastern |
| with only one ball in the lottery machine), the Magic | | | | Conference's best record in the lockout-shortened |
| once again won the NBA draft lottery. In the draft, | | | | season, 33-17. Armstrong again led the team |
| the Magic selected Chris Webber, but traded him to | | | | emotionally, winning the NBA's Sixth-Man and Most |
| the Golden State Warriors for the number three pick, | | | | Improved Player awards. In addition, Orlando also |
| guard Anfernee Hardaway (known as "Penny" | | | | acquired NBA great Dominique Wilkins, along with |
| Hardaway) and three future first-round draft picks. | | | | brother Gerald, who were past their primes but were |
| Prior to the draft, Guokas stepped down as head | | | | both still very good. In the playoffs, though, the |
| coach, and Brian Hill was promoted to become the | | | | Magic were seeded number 3 because of tiebreakers |
| Magic's second coach. Also, General Manager Pat | | | | and faced the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers, led by |
| Williams was replaced by John Gabriel. | | | | Allen Iverson, upset the Magic 3-1 in the first round. |
| With the lethal combination of O'Neal and Hardaway, | | | | In 1999, the Magic, under General Manager John |
| the Magic became a dominant team in the NBA, | | | | Gabriel, who was later named Executive of the Year, |
| compiling the first 50 win season in franchise history | | | | hired rookie-coach Doc Rivers. Gabriel dismantled the |
| with a 50-32 record. The Magic were in the playoffs | | | | previous team trading their only remaining superstar |
| for the first time, ranked the fourth seed in the | | | | Anfernee Hardaway to the Phoenix Suns for Danny |
| Eastern Conference. However, the underdog Pacers | | | | Manning (who never donned a Magic uniform), Pat |
| team swept the Magic 3-0 in the first round, thus | | | | Garrity and two future draft picks. The Magic were |
| ending the Magic's season. | | | | then a team virtually comprised of all no name |
| However, in the 1994-95 season, the Magic's sixth | | | | players and little experience which included team |
| season, after acquiring rebounder Horace Grant as a | | | | captain Armstrong, Bo Outlaw and a young Ben |
| free agent from the Chicago Bulls, Orlando compiled a | | | | Wallace, along with Coach Rivers led the Magic to a |
| 57-25 record, best in the East and winning the | | | | 41-41 record, barely missing out on the playoffs. At |
| Atlantic Division title. In the playoffs, the Magic | | | | the end of the season Rivers was named Coach of |
| defeated the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, and the | | | | the Year by the NBA. This year was characterized |
| Indiana Pacers, advancing to the NBA Finals. The | | | | by the slogan "Heart and Hustle", as the team was |
| Houston Rockets, though, ended Orlando's dream of | | | | known for its hard-working style. |